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'We lost a mother and four children.' Town grieves following deadly fire

'We lost a mother and four children.' Town grieves following deadly fire

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Updated: 6:20 PM EST Mar 4, 2017

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WEBVTT FEWER THAN 800 PEOPLE LIVE ANDWORK AND NEARLY ALL OF THEM AREFEELING THE PAIN OF THIS LOSS.NOTHING BUT CHARRED RUBBLE ISLEFT WHERE A FAMILY OF SEVENUSED TO LIVE.EVEN CARS IN THE YARD WEREBURNED WHEN A DEADLY FIRE BROKEOUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.>> THE COMMUNITY HAS SUFFERED AGREAT LOSS OF LIFE.A HUGE BLOW TO OUR SPIRIT THATWE ARE ONLY BEGINNING TOREALIZE.DAVID: THE FIRST 911 CALLS WEREABOUT A WOOD STOVE FIRE IN THEHOUSE'S KITCHEN AND SAIDEVERYONE HAD MADE IT OUT OK.BUT WHEN THE FIRST CREWSARRIVED, THEY FOUND A MAN ANDCHILD IN THE DRIVEWAY WHO SAIDPEOPLE WERE TRAPPED INSIDE.>> THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULDHAVE DONE DIFFERENT,UNFORTUNATELY.DAVID: FIRE CHIEF RON GATES SAIDTHE FLAMES WERE SO INTENSE,CREWS COULD NOT EVEN GET CLOSE.HE STRUGGLED TO SPEAK AS HEDESCRIBED WHAT THEY LATER FOUNDINSIDE.>> WE LOST A MOTHERAND FOURCHILDREN.GENEROUS, TALENTED, SMART.DAVID: WITH TEMPERATURES INSINGLE DIGITS AND NO HYDRANTS INTOWN, FIRE CREWS HAD TO PUMPWATER OUT OF A POND A HALF MILEAWAY.AT LEAST 16 NEIGHBORING TOWNSSENT HELP.THE CHIEF SAYS HIS TWELVE-MEMBERDEPARTMENT IS ALL-VOLUNTEER AND,LIKE THE REST OF THIS COMMUNITY,IS STRUGGLING WITH THE LOSS.>> I KNOW THATHEY WOULD BETHERE.THEY WOULD NOT STOP.DAVID: THE ADULT AND CHILD WHOSURVIVED WENT TO WAY HOSPITALWITH RELATIVELY MINOR INJURIES.AUTHORITIES ARE NOT YET

'We lost a mother and four children.' Town grieves following deadly fire